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Feedback induced instabilities in a quantum dot semiconductor laser

Authors

Ray Carroll

I. O'Driscoll

S. P. Hegarty

G. Huyet

J. Houlihan

E. A. Viktorov

P. Mandel

Publication Date

Oct 01, 2006

Disciplines

Physics

Abstract

We analyse the properties of GaAs based quantum dot semiconductor lasers emitting near 1310 nm. The line-width enhancement factor is shown to depend strongly on device temperature, ranging from 1.5 at 20 degrees C to 5 at 50 degrees C. With optical feedback from a distant reflector, devices remained stable at 20 degrees C but displayed a range of instabilities at 50 degrees C, including irregular power drop - outs and periodic pulsations, before entering a chaotic regime. Such dynamical features are unique to quantum dot lasers - quantum well lasers are significantly more unstable under optical feedback making such a clear route to chaos difficult to observe. (c) 2006 Optical Society of America.

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